The Marion County Public Health Department is reporting the county’s first human case of West Nile virus for 2015. Mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus have been found in surveillance traps in all townships of Marion County.
Most people who become infected with West Nile virus do not develop any symptoms. People with certain medical conditions, such as cancer, diabetes and kidney disease are at greater risk forexperiencing symptoms which include headache, body aches, joint pains or rash. Less than one percent of people who are infected with West Nile virus will develop a serious neurologic illness such as encephalitis or meningitis.
One human case of West Nile virus was reported in Marion County in 2014. The last death in Marion County from West Nile virus was reported in 2012.
Mosquito activity in the county remains high and everyone is encouraged to take steps to protect themselves from bites. This includes: staying inside as much as possible after dusk when mosquitoes are most active; wearing long pants and long sleeves if outside after dusk; and using a mosquito repellant containing the ingredient DEET.
Residents are also encouraged to look for – and empty – any container capable of holding water. Clogged gutters, old tires, buckets and anything that holds even a small amount of water is a potential mosquito breeding site.
When a human case of West Nile virus is reported, Marion County Public Health Department Mosquito Control takes extra steps to help the community safe by:
- Dispatching Environmental Health Specialists to a quarter-mile radius from the reported case to check and treat any areas of standing water.
- Providing information pamphlets about mosquitoes and West Nile virus to residents of the target area.
- Spraying at night to knock down any adult mosquitoes in the area.
Mosquitoes infected with the virus will remain active until the first hard freeze.
Marion County residents with mosquito questions are encouraged to contact Mosquito Control at 317-221-7440.